A man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife at the Cheltenham Festival.

The suspect was detained on the event’s Ladies Day, attended by Andy Murray, the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Cornwall and Zara Tindall.

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police said: “Officers swiftly responded to reports that a man was in possession of a knife at Cheltenham Race Course at around 10.30am today.

“A man has been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.”

Photographs taken from the festival’s main entrance show armed police escorting a man away.

2019 Cheltenham Festival – Ladies Day – Cheltenham Racecourse
A man is detained by armed police at the Cheltenham Festival.

The images, taken at 10.45am, feature a man wearing blue jeans, a blue jumper, raincoat and blue and white shoes.

It is not known if this incident relates to the arrest of a man for possessing a knife. Police refused to provide details of the suspect, such as his age.

A spokesman for Cheltenham Racecourse said: “A man was found in possession of a knife outside the racecourse enclosures.

“He was quickly apprehended by the police. It should be noted he had made no attempt to pass through racecourse security.”

Other celebrities at the event included Eamonn Holmes, former professional footballer Martin Keown, model Vogue Williams and actor Nigel Havers.

2019 Cheltenham Festival – Ladies Day – Cheltenham Racecourse
Andy Murray and wife Kim watch the action at the Cheltenham Festival

Earlier on Wednesday, organisers confirmed that racing would go ahead following concerns about weather conditions from Storm Gareth.

Simon Claisse, clerk of the course, gave the green light after after the strength of winds “moderated on the forecast”.

Security has been stepped up at racecourses in the wake of a series of violent incidents involving punters, most recently at Haydock last month when dozens of men became embroiled in a mass brawl.